BRISBANE'S TOP 100 REVEALED

THEY boast a combined revenue of $22.7 billion, driven by more than 60,730 staff in a diverse range of industries.

The Brisbane Business News Top 100 Private Companies 2013 have ridden out a tumultuous year and emerged stronger and more resilient.

Free from shareholder expectations of quick returns and the volatility of the ASX, Brisbane's private companies prefer to keep things under the radar, making their fortunes away from the public eye.

For those on this list to have performed so well in a period of economic hardship speaks volumes for the resilience of this city and its business people.

Terry White Chemists has been toppled from number one where it reigned in 2012 but retains a place in the top five.

Health retail has proven itself an industry to watch with four companies making the list. CEO Anthony White says the industry has both opportunities and threats in the pipeline.

While an ageing population, greater life expectancies and increasing incidence of chronic disease will ensure the continued viability of health retail, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme reforms are presenting challenges and discount pharmacies and supermarkets are creating increased competition.

Our top performing company this year enjoyed a strong boost in revenue, bringing in over $2 billion in the past financial year. The family-owned company has shown its resilience, enduring its share of challenges this year with a lengthy industrial dispute.

This year's list celebrates diversity. A number of industries are featured in the top 10 alone, including commodity trading, construction, meat processing, construction, electric and plumbing and real estate.

Car dealerships have also dominated the list with 10 in total making the cut. Sci-Fleet Group was the top performer coming in at number 12.

The group is capitalising on popular Toyota models and has recently been awarded the exclusive 5-Star Customer Service Dealership Award.

But even stronger than their revenue figures, the influence of our top 100 lies in their dedication to the community. Some of the companies featured are less than a decade old, while others span more than a century, but all contribute to the economy and job market.

The list is based on available information from Dun & Bradstreet's intelligence tool Company 360° as well as our assessments and estimates. We researched a broad cross-section of private companies that have no obligation to reveal details of their business.

However reluctantly, they deserve to be held up as champions in this special edition showcase, on sale now.